FAI Invites First Division Expressions of Interest

No doubt we'll see another quick fix from the FAI to paper over the cracks.

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Originally Posted by Ezeikial

If the cost of running a B team is in the region of €100k that has been touted, getting 1 or 2 players a year graduating to the senior squad is hardly a good benchmark of value.

It's about quality rather then quantity

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Originally Posted by disgruntled

I suppose if that were the case then why would clubs bother with Under 15's upwards at all if all they will ever get out of it is one or two senior players after maybe having players for five or six years?
Clubs in the League of Ireland would be largely selling clubs in that any promising players are sold off cross channel. The income from this enables a club to improve their senior team by means of employing better players to supplement those born locally & brought up through the clubs under age system & without blowing their budget.

It also helps them improve their under age system so that they may improve the players they have by better coaching & facilities.This is how a lot of clubs both here & in the UK survive. Otherwise because of small gate receipts & poor support they would quickly go out of business.

Other clubs prefer to spend money including money they don't have in buying in players by way of signing on fee's & big salaries in the hope it brings success.
In some cases it does bring success but in a lot of cases it doesn't which leaves a club with big debts, no money & nothing to show for all the money spent chasing the dream.

I suppose it all depends on where in the country the club is from & what their philosophy on football is.

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So it seems that you agree after all ............ It's about quality rather then quantity

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Originally Posted by Dodge

There won't be any B teams. Pats and Cork both say it's too expensive

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If the FAI want teams to enter the 1st Division then they must help them.
Scrap any entry fees & support clubs who are willing to enter.
For instance pay the match officials fees for a start.
There is no point in trying to get clubs to enter when most clubs in the country who might be interested can't afford it.

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Originally Posted by Ezeikial

So it seems that you agree after all ............ It's about quality rather then quantity

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Its always about quality but to get one quality player it might be necessary to go through twenty.

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Originally Posted by JC_GUFC

What I felt from having seen the team a few times was that there were a number of players who were just never going to make it up to Rovers' first team squad and that would have been known at the start of the season.
During the season it also seemed as if the u19s were given priority over the Bs so the likes of Mark Sandford played for the 19s instead of the Bs. Obviously with no chance of promotion that was fair enough for Rovers to do that.
Aside from all that I wasn't really mad on the idea of them forming part of a league. The chopping and changing of their team from week to week didn't sit well with me from the idea of what a league should be...

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Rovers wanted to take the U19 team out of the league and effectively make it the B team. FAI wouldn't sanction that, so Rovers were basically running three teams, so a lot of chopping and changing had to be done between the three squads.

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Originally Posted by disgruntled

If the FAI want teams to enter the 1st Division then they must help them.
Scrap any entry fees & support clubs who are willing to enter.
For instance pay the match officials fees for a start.
There is no point in trying to get clubs to enter when most clubs in the country who might be interested can't afford it.

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No chance. If the FAI agreed to do that for Cork, Pats and Rovers, the other 16 clubs would be up in arms about unfair treatment.

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Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

Rovers wanted to take the U19 team out of the league and effectively make it the B team. FAI wouldn't sanction that, so Rovers were basically running three teams, so a lot of chopping and changing had to be done between the three squads.


No chance. If the FAI agreed to do that for Cork, Pats and Rovers, the other 16 clubs would be up in arms about unfair treatment.

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Not just those three.
Do it for all the 1st Division.
Help to establish the 1st Division as a whole.
Most of the clubs in the 1st div are pretty broke anyway.

Encourage clubs to put teams in the 1st Div by helping them to lessen the cost of competing in that division.
There are many clubs around the country who would be interested but just can't afford the expense.
The travel costs alone would cripple them.

If the FAI ever want the 1st Division to be a success then they must help those clubs willing to compete in that division.
Otherwise we are going to revisit this topic again & again over the years that's if the 1st Div even lasts that long.

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Originally Posted by disgruntled

Not just those three.
Do it for all the 1st Division.
Help to establish the 1st Division as a whole.
Most of the clubs in the 1st div are pretty broke anyway.

Encourage clubs to put teams in the 1st Div by helping them to lessen the cost of competing in that division.
There are many clubs around the country who would be interested but just can't afford the expense.
The travel costs alone would cripple them.

If the FAI ever want the 1st Division to be a success then they must help those clubs willing to compete in that division.
Otherwise we are going to revisit this topic again & again over the years that's if the 1st Div even lasts that long.

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I'd agree with that but ultimately the league is set up the way the FAI want it to be - it pays for itself and nobody complains too much.

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Originally Posted by Dodge

So we're back to arguing about a 7 team league now...

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No no no need for that

Surely the city of Galway could support another LOI team?

Maybe one of the leading Junior clubs with good underage structures and a solid base in the local community would be interested

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Originally Posted by DRDoc

No no no need for that

Surely the city of Galway could support another LOI team?

Maybe one of the leading Junior clubs with good underage structures and a solid base in the local community would be interested

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I think you might be on to something there... but why stop at one?

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Originally Posted by DRDoc

Surely the city of Galway could support another LOI team?

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Speaking of which, the clown responsible for that who used it for his own ends got elected again. Disgusting.

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Originally Posted by gufcfan

Speaking of which, the clown responsible for that who used it for his own ends got elected again. Disgusting.

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Is that a paid position?

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Originally Posted by sullanefc

Is that a paid position?

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Not directly.

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Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

I'd agree with that but ultimately the league is set up the way the FAI want it to be - it pays for itself and nobody complains too much.

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It does more than pay for itself, it pays towards the stadium debt every year.

The entry fee is less than the total prize money. Then you add in fines and sponsorship money and its clear that the FAI are taking money out of the LOI every year.

Originally Posted by disgruntled http://foot.ie/images/buttons/viewpost-right.png
Not just those three.
Do it for all the 1st Division.
Help to establish the 1st Division as a whole.
Most of the clubs in the 1st div are pretty broke anyway.

Encourage clubs to put teams in the 1st Div by helping them to lessen the cost of competing in that division.
There are many clubs around the country who would be interested but just can't afford the expense.
The travel costs alone would cripple them.

If the FAI ever want the 1st Division to be a success then they must help those clubs willing to compete in that division.

Otherwise we are going to revisit this topic again & again over the years that's if the 1st Div even lasts that long.

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Originally Posted by Charlie Darwin

I'd agree with that but ultimately the league is set up the way the FAI want it to be - it pays for itself and nobody complains too much.

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I also think that most would agree that the FAI plan for the 1st Div hasn't worked for football & the clubs involved as we now seem to be reduced to seven in the number of clubs that can somehow afford to take part.
The FAI need to treat the 1st Div as the basket case it is & somehow nurse it back to health.
They need to put all thoughts of profit to one side & help & encourage those clubs willing to take part.
Maybe when the 1st Div returns to a healthy & viable competition the FAI can once again return to milking it for all its worth.

While I agree the FAI need to get the finger out, all league clubs need to recognise that a healthy second tier or indeed league in general is in their interests. Currently the FAI can argue that the majority of clubs have no interest in change.

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Originally Posted by Mr A

While I agree the FAI need to get the finger out, all league clubs need to recognise that a healthy second tier or indeed league in general is in their interests. Currently the FAI can argue that the majority of clubs have no interest in change.

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Then the FAI need to show leadership which at this time they're not doing.
Otherwise the League of Ireland will do what is has always done, stumble from one crisis to the next.

Has anyone even heard any rumours of their being an 8th team next season?

7 teams would be a total disaster - that's just 12 home games for each club next season and there would be 4 "bye weeks" during the season with no game at all.

I've heard rumours there are a couple of teams interested. Not sure who or how serious that is though.

Shels responded to a comment on their facebook page that there will be 8 clubs in it next year

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We're told it will be eight again this season. New team's identity not being released yet.

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https://www.facebook.com/shelbournef...230731/?type=1

Hearing the same old rumours going around, Carlow/Kilkenny team playing out of Buckley Park, Kerry League side, even Monaghan United returning.

Suppose we'll most likely find out around end of January.

Would they not just have some sort of X Factor style show to get the 8th team? JD and Emma could be the judges.

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Originally Posted by Nah Nah Nah Nah

Would they not just have some sort of X Factor style show to get the 8th team? JD and Emma could be the judges.

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It worked in 2007.

They could just get a club to throw in a team, on the basis of a 3 year commitment, and then do nothing if they pull out after a year.

That sounds like a plan we can all get behind.

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Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

Hearing the same old rumours going around, Carlow/Kilkenny team playing out of Buckley Park, Kerry League side, even Monaghan United returning.

Suppose we'll most likely find out around end of January.

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Can 100% rule Kerry out of the running, focus entirely on the all-weather pitch, and even the talk that the U-19 League had been joined seems to have gone totally quiet.

Was in tolka the other day, lad there had heard rumours of IT Carlow or cabinteely (no idea what club) had expressed interest. Can't see any club joining it. 7 clubs is what I'm thinking

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Originally Posted by Dave77

Was in tolka the other day, lad there had heard rumours of IT Carlow or cabinteely (no idea what club) had expressed interest. Can't see any club joining it. 7 clubs is what I'm thinking

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Cabinteely?!?!

Would a club like sheriff not be interested. They have put it up to league clubs over the last number of years in the cups and seem to dominate all the junior competitions they play in.

Sheriff don't have a ground. They'd probably have to groundshare with Shels, added the costs of running a LOI team with a very small supporter base and they'd have to give up their position in the LSL. It just isn't worth the gamble for most Dublin clubs. The lack of a proper pyramid makes it very not worth their while.

The Mirror is reporting that Cabinteely FC want to join the league. I've never heard of them before. I'm not even sure where Cabinteely is.

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Originally Posted by Longfordian

The Mirror is reporting that Cabinteely FC want to join the league. I've never heard of them before. I'm not even sure where Cabinteely is.

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They seem like a small junior club. 12 pitches in Kilbogget Park, and a large enough youth setup according to their website. That'd be an awfully strange addition to the league. Another team with no decent stadium and no fanbase. It'd be like Salthill Devon all over again.

True, but there is a gap in the market for a team in the Dun Laoghire/SE Dublin area, and if it was well thought out, such a club could be successful. Also, I think Crumlin United should apply: they've dominated the LSL now for 2 years running, so they're clearly ready to move up.

"Gap in the market" - perennial famous last words in LOI.

Played them years ago underage.They are a very small club. Surprised to hear they are interested.

In the interests of accuracy, Sherriff don't play in the Leinster Senior League (LSL) CD. They are a Junior club and they are members of the Athletic Union League (AUL)

Yes, sorry, I type faster than I think sometimes :)

I think IT Carlow should join tbh.. Full time football course there and fantastic facilities. They could also use Buckley park in Kilkenny for home games

I hate this idea of "they dominated junior/intermediate football so are ready to step up". It's not about the first team or how well the club do on the pitch that matters. Most clubs who dominate junior and intermediate football barely get 50 people to watch a match and don't have anything near the same financial outgoings of senior clubs.

Again, it's the same as Salthill Devon or Mervue United. Granted, at least Meruve on occasion were able to get 200 or so to home games, but Salthill had nobody watching them, and it's effectively killed the once thriving junior club.

Crumlin United wouldn't be a good addition to the League of Ireland, not would any Dublin based side. The Dublin City and Sporting Fingal ideas should have been proof enough to everyone that nobody will take on another Dublin team. 'Gap in the market' isn't a suitable reason to bring in another club or for a club to reach too far beyond their capabilities.

I'd fully welcome a Carlow IT team, but I believe they already have a decent enough stadium within the college grounds with a seated stand and wouldn't need to use Buckley Park. Stand to be corrected on that one though.

I dont thnk IT Carlow have a football pitch witha stand .Their GAA team does I Think.. They mainly use 3G Astro pitches in the college. With the FAI course in the college they could develop a decent following in the town

According to their website, the main stand in the college has 660 seats, and 'state of the art' changing facilities with another 250 seat stand in the Rugby pitch. I'm sure the main arena could easily be altered for use as a football pitch if they got into the league. They've a 4G artificial pitch too. So, it seems the facilities are definitely there.